The History of a Classic: Farah Vintage

Farah Vintage. If you don’t know the name – you will at least recognise the ‘F’ logo that symbolises its heritage, quality and a sense of style. Farah began as a brand in the 1920s over in the United States, but surged in popularity in the UK and Europe in the 70s initially through their functional slacks – casually incorporated into a variety of looks and styles by different groups. Despite a rollercoaster ride through the twentieth century, Farah never lost its sense of purpose as a brand and continues to serve each and every one of its customers to a high level. Here at Golfposer, we thought you might like to know just what happened at Farah and how its successes brought it to where it stands now.

Farah, as a business, was created by Mansour Farah – a Lebanese immigrant who studied in New York before moving to Texas to start his own company. Mansour and his wife began producing chambray shirts from a factory in El Paso – selling for just 35 cents each. Though, when the Federal Government began producing work shirts, Farah diversified into manufacturing denim workpants and eventually khaki workpants and shirts. The company saw some big returns through providing the army with military clothing in the 1940s, priding itself on the functionality of the garments it produced – something that has never disappeared from the core of the brand.

After the company’s rapid growth through the war period and beyond, Farah went public in 1967. Each and every product was designed in-house and manufactured in one of four highly automated production facilities in El Paso or San Antonio. Originator Mansour’s son, William Farah, was at the helm of the company in the 60s and aimed to keep all aspects of Farah clothing American in order to keep the quality under control. His measures included keeping all workers, suppliers and even customers American – however this did not last long.

Fashionable British youths adopted Farah trousers into their different styles and looks in the 70s and through to the 80s – from Mods & Skins to Rockabillys. The slacks were originally made from Hopsack canvas and were slim cut with some sharp tailoring. The fabric was also stain resistant and each of these sub-cultural groups saw the potential in the functionality of the Farah slacks and built their definitive looks around these pants. Youths of that time had a general desire to look as if you had come from somewhere more exciting than that ‘boring’ town or city you really came from. The Farah slacks came from Texas; they looked like jeans but weren’t.  Farah was one of the top selling trouser brands in the UK in the 1970s – becoming an integral part of the casualisation of fashion.

Farah opened a superstore on Baron Street in London in 1971 and released a Sports Line in the 1980s. This new range of men’s clothing was warmly welcomed by British youths, and Farah became the must-have brand of clothing – especially within the Indie music scene. It was almost guaranteed that everybody on the balconies of music gigs would be sporting Farah with pride.

The brand has been adopted by opinion leaders in the fashion scene in the past 10 years or so and has featured in several magazines such as FHM and NME. Since the turn of the century, many celebrities have been spotted in Farah clothing, from bands like The Strokes and The Last Shadow Puppets to the cast of the popular TV show the Inbetweeners. Other well-known faces on the music scene such as Paulo Nutini and the fashionable X-factor runner up Olly Murs proudly wear the golden ‘F’ on their polo shirts and knitwear.

The word ‘heritage’ is fast becoming clichéd in reference to clothing brands, but Farah Vintageis without doubt a heritage brand. Having been around for over 90 years, these guys know what they are doing as much as anyone else in menswear. The Vintage line at Golfposer combines this heritage with authenticity and style, without forgetting the primary focus on quality. The 2011 Autumn/Winter menswear collection delves into the history and brings retro clothing for men up to date with current fashion trends. We love the simplicity of the golf polo shirts and the feel of the trendy cable knit jumpers – both looking excellent on the course as well as out casually.

We at Golfposer believe it would be a big mistake for you not to own a retro shirt or jumper with the Farah logo on!

View our full collection of Farah Vintage Shirts, Knitwear and Trousers here - all with free delivery!

Golfposer stock the very latest in Designer Golf Clothing for men. Our Mens Trendy Golf brands include Hugo Boss Golf, Slanj Tartan, Emporio Armani EA7, Puma Golf, Original Penguin, Adidas Golf, Galvin Green, Farah Vintage, and Ralph Lauren.

The Heritage of a Classic: Original Penguin by Munsingwear

He is one of the most iconic images in golf clothing and in the men’s fashion industry. He has been seen on some top class and trendy golfers such as Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus – along with worldwide fashion icons like Frank Sinatra and Clint Eastwood. In 1955, he was just a stuffed little penguin living in Manhattan and knew nothing of the journey he was soon to be headed. He is the Original Penguin – and his name is Pete.

Original Penguin by Munsingwear came to life in 1955. As the story goes, one of the salesmen for Munsingwear was sent on a business trip from Minneapolis to New York City but found himself in a local bar with time to kill. Abbot Pederson lost his bearings after leaving the pub and eventually stumbled across a display of stuffed penguins in a shop window. Deciding he may need a bit of company for his flight to NYC, Pederson bought one of the little penguins and named him Pete. During this flight, Pete’s head tragically fell off, only to be rescued by one of the stewardesses. This beautiful lady then had a bright idea and used Pederson’s tie to wrap around Pete’s neck to hold his head in place. With Abbot Pederson being a keen golfer, he immediately knew that Pete – looking very dapper in his new tie – was the ideal logo for the Penguin golf collection he was aspiring to create for Munsingwear!

The aim for Original Penguin was to create a realistic competitor to Lacoste. They released golf shirts alongside casual wear – though refused to create a shirt specifically for tennis to avoid a ‘Holy War’ with the French brand.  Original Penguin became the cornerstone of an entire fashion movement which represented a relaxed and sophisticated lifestyle. For the first time, a shirt designed specifically for men’s golf was created by this new brand and the idea was warmly welcomed by the golfing world. This casual, comfortable polo shirt that looks just as good on the course as it does on the 19th hole became a must-have piece. Known as ‘the 55’, the trendy golf shirt from Original Penguin revolutionised golf wear for good.  This timeless polo shirt is a classic and is a staple part of today’s Original Penguin men’s golf collection. ‘The 55’ has of course been improved over the years to reflect today’s lifestyle and can be bought from Golfposer here today!

Through the latter half of the 20th century, that humorous little penguin wearing a tie could be seen on many famous figures.

Golfers included: Arnold Palmer, Dow Finsterwald, Jack Burke Jr, Tom Watson, Jack Nicklaus and more recently Australian Aaron Baddeley!

Other famous bearers of the Original Penguin brand were: Frank Sinatra, Richard Nixon, Dean Martin, Clint Eastwood, Bob Hope and Bing Crosby.

Original Penguin menswear has also been seen on some youthful trendsetters on
television such as the actors of Skins & How I Met Your Mother!

Original Penguin went under the radar for a decade or so, though they were taken over by Perry Ellis International in 1996 and returned stronger than ever with a sports clothing line in 2003. The sponsorship of Aaron Baddeley renewed their association with the golfing universe, digging up some of their heritage too.

Original Penguin polo shirts are amongst some of the most distinctive ever made. The Earl style is instantly recognisable and is incredibly versatile yet comfortable at the same time. When you buy an Original Penguin item, you are not just buying the product – you are buying confidence, style, image, sophistication and you are also investing in the heritage of a vintage brand. We all know that penguins can’t fly, but Pete the Original Penguin definitely took off in 1955 and is still flying high today!

Golfposer stock a variety of men’s designer polo shirts for both golf and casual wear. Many of our retro golf shirts look just as good on the course as they do on a night out! With trendy colours available and a range of sizes, Original Penguin is a classic brand that any man would be proud to be seen wearing. With the colder days fast approaching we also have men’s casual jackets available that will keep you looking great this winter!

Another tip from Golfposer – start to think about Christmas! We know it isn’t even November yet but why not get some of your stocking fillers sorted out today and forget about those smaller presents you always leave until the last minute? We have a selection of gent’s Original Penguin socks that we managed to get our hands on and are already selling quickly! 

Remember, all online purchases come with free delivery at Golfposer so there are no hidden costs!

View our full range of Original Penguin golf and casual wear here!

Golfposer stock the very latest in Designer Golf Clothing for men. Our Mens Trendy Golf brands include Hugo Boss Golf, Slanj Tartan, Emporio Armani EA7, Puma Golf, Original Penguin, Adidas Golf, Galvin Green, Farah Vintage, and Ralph Lauren.

Adidas Golf – the Present & Future!

Following our news feature in September about Golf Poser’s full Adidas Golf range for Autumn/Winter 2011 now being available, we thought we would give you guys an insight on just how the technology behind our Adidas Golf Clothing fabrics work. Adidas Golf offers a wide selection of performance golf clothing – suited for a variety of weather conditions from hot & sunny to cold, wet & windy. Adidas Golf Clothing can be seen worn by top golfers such as Justin Rose, Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia and the up and coming Jason Day.

Climacool technology: Suited for hot weather conditions on the golf course. Adidas Climacool fabrics provide superior moisture management that wicks away any excess moisture rapidly whilst also allowing for maximum breathability. These Climacool Golf Shirts are designed to be fast-drying and keep the body temperature controlled at a cool level in hot conditions. In all of the Adidas Golf Climacool Shirts, there is also the added feature of mesh ventilation – placed at the critical heat zones to allow for optimum breathability and therefore maximum comfort. The Formotion polo shirts are designed with three-dimensional engineering which means that this shirt gives optimal fit and comfort to the wearer.

Climaproof technology:  Perhaps more appropriate for the British weather! Adidas Golf Climaproof comes in three different versions at Golfposer which target separate weather conditions. On the whole Climaproof outerwear is highly resistant to harsh conditions such as wind, rain and snow whilst also being lightweight for superior comfort. Climaproof Storm gear has a 3 year waterproof warranty and is also fully seam-sealed to ensure you stay as dry as possible throughout your round of golf! If you are a committed golfer who braves the worst weather conditions, make sure you have a Climaproof Storm waterproof suit in your locker to give you that extra advantage over your opponents and the elements! Climaproof Provisional Rain Wear comes with a 1 year waterproof warranty. It is critically seam-sealed and is a cheaper alternative to the Storm suit. Climaproof Wind jackets are more suited for those windy days that throw your ball all over the course! The jackets are wind and water resistant and Golfposer stock a selection of colours to keep you looking good too!

Climalite technology: Perfect golf layering pieces for those extra cold winter days. Climalite is a heavier material but Adidas have managed to maintain maximum breathability too. The Climalite fabrics resist pilling (when those unsightly balls of fabric appear) which usually occurs with man-made fabrics. They are also anti-microbial which allows the wearer to keep fresh throughout a round of golf. Golfposer stock golf polo shirts with Climalite technology, alongside golf base layers which are a must-have for winter golf and other sports! These come in a variety of colours so you can mix and match to create your perfect outfit!

Golfposer also offer three types of Adidas Golf Trousers. The first option – the flat front golf pants – integrate the previously mentioned Climacool technology to create a very wearable pant for warm weather. The next option is the Adidas 3 Stripe golf pants which is made with a very lightweight Climacool fabric and are the ultimate pants for a comfortable round of golf. Finally, a new style of winter golf pants are available in two colours and are an excellent addition to the wardrobe for those chilly winter mornings!

Adidas Golf Future: Up until now, Adidas Golf clothing has primarily focused on excelling in the performance category. But for 2012, a new generation of Adidas clothing will be released with the ‘Fashion Performance’ line – fronted by young Australian Jason Day! Here at Golfposer, we strongly encourage all style-conscious golfers to keep an eye out for this new line, bringing bold colours and style into their clothes – reminiscent of the Adidas Originals range. In particular, look out for the Adidas Samba Golf Shoe that we gave a preview for last month. We can assure you the performance aspect will not disappear, but the aesthetic appeal of Adidas golf wear will take a massive leap in 2012!

We are excited, are you?

You can find our current range of Adidas Golf Clothing, Golf shoes and accessories here!

Golfposer stock the very latest in Designer Golf Clothing for men. Our Mens Trendy Golf brands include Hugo Boss Golf, Slanj Tartan, Emporio Armani EA7, Puma Golf, Original Penguin, Adidas Golf, Galvin Green, Farah Vintage, and Ralph Lauren.